Ex-military men set up support network in Market Rasen

A pair of charitable ex-serviceman from Market Rasen have set up a veterans’ breakfast club aimed at helping those in need - and others who just want some ‘forces camaraderie’.

Former soldiers Michael Kenning and Martin Hare came up with the idea after noticing there were a lot of ex-military personnel at the Remembrance Day parade in Market Rasen last November.

The pair got to work and have now formed Market Rasen Veterans’ Breakfast Club.

Michael, a retired Royal Corps of Signals Warrant Officer 1, said: “The aim of the club is for ex-service personnel to come along and have a bit of banter and chat, that sense of camaraderie that they used to have on a daily basis.

“And we can identify those who are in need of a bit of help.

“Soldiers won’t ask for help because they’ve been told for so long to be independent.

“But if help is offered they’ll take it.”

Michael, who served in the Army between 1990 and 2012, said he and Martin will be able to point veterans towards numerous charities that can offer help and support with various issues.

And Michael said he and Martin are both members of the Royal British Legion but that the group was not ‘Legion linked’.

The club will meet at Market Rasen Social Club in Serpentine Street every second Saturday from 9.30am until 11.30am.

Michael said: “When I was at the Remembrance Day parade in Market Rasen I noticed there were an awful lot of ex-servicemen there, lots of people wearing veterans’ badges.